Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Transfiguration of Jesus – 15 February, 2026
10am or whenever possible
You may like to light a candle during your time of worship.
Feel free to text the Peace to other members of the congregation.
Introit: Holy, holy, holy – (TiS 723)
Santo, santo, santo. Mi corazón te adora!
Mi corazón te sabe decir: Santo eres Señor!
Holy, holy, holy. My heart, my heart adores you!
My heart knows how to say to you: Holy are you, Lord.
Lighting the Christ Candle:
Today we light the Christ Candle
as a reminder of the shining and transforming light of Christ
which is always with us.
Acknowledgement of Country:
The Ancient of Days breathed life into this land and her peoples.
From time beyond our reckoning the Wurundjeri WoiWurrung
People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians,
have blessed this place through their law and customs, their care and life.
I pay my respects to their elders and leaders, past and present,
and pray for the future of their communities.
May we walk gently and respectfully on this Land.
Call to Worship:
However we have arrived here;
bothered and breathless,
from great struggles up mountains,
calm and centred,
drifting on the river of life,
or somewhere in between,
we are here together.
We are here.
Spirit of truth, shine your light on us.
Transform our ways into your ways.
Open our eyes, minds and hearts.
Dispel our fears.
Teach us to listen and to learn.
Take us with you.
We Sing: Praise to the Lord – (TiS 111)
Praise to the Lord,
the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praising,
for God is your health and salvation.
Come all who hear,
brothers and sisters draw near,
praising in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord who in all things is wondrously reigning
and, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining:
have you not seen, all that is needed has been
sent by God’s gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praise and rejoicing.
Let the Amen sound from God’s people again:
gladly for ever adoring.
Prayer of Praise and Confession:
All praise to you, Lord God,
hidden majesty of light,
voice speaking through the Law and the Prophets
and speaking with us in Jesus your beloved Son.
Praise to you Lord Jesus,
shining in your clothes of light,
hidden in the man from Nazareth,
forsaken in the Crucified One,
brilliant in your resurrection glory.
Praise to you most holy Spirit:
speaking to us through Scripture
and affirming for us
the identity and knowledge of the Son;
calling us to walk with him
the way of the cross;
granting us high moments of insight
and commitment,
and allowing us to share with others
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God of all, we confess
that we have failed to listen to Jesus,
and that we have been lost,
lost in religious distractions,
lost in pious talk and activity
and we have failed to recognise
who it is who walks beside
and shares his life with us day by day:
your beloved Son.
Have mercy on us
and touch us with your Spirit
that we may know we are forgiven
and called into newness of life,
equipped to honour and serve you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
With tenderness and grace,
Jesus shows us the power and the glory of God.
Walk in the assurance of God’s mercy
and the promise of Christ’s strength for the journey.
The Peace:
As we climb the mountain of God to see Jesus transfigured in our midst,
may we know God’s peace.
The Peace of God dwell with you: and also with you.
Time for All:
Today I’d like to share a story with you about the very ordinary caterpillar. It is written and illustrated by Garry Fleming and it goes like this.
Once there was a caterpillar, a Very Ordinary Caterpillar. He looked up one day and saw that the sky was endlessly blue. And all around him flowers bloomed in so many colours he could not count them.
Two beautifully coloured Rainbow Lorikeets flew over, and landed beside him. ‘Why do you have so many beautiful colours, and I do not?’ asked the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. ‘Because we are Rainbow Lorikeets,’ they laughed. ‘And you are just a Very Ordinary Caterpillar.’
Below on the forest floor, a bird with feathers that shimmered like satin was strutting about. ‘Why do you have feathers that shine like satin, and I do not?’ asked the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. ‘Because I am a Satin Bowerbird,’ he said, bowing proudly. ‘And you are just a Very Ordinary Caterpillar.’
A magnificent orange frill around his neck, a lizard was stunning himself nearby. ‘Why do you have a magnificent orange frill, and I do not?’ asked the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. ‘Because I am a Frilled Lizard’, he hissed, flaring his frill. ‘And you are just a Very Ordinary Caterpillar.
Just then a big green frog with bright red eyes, came hopping past the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. ‘Why do you have bright red eyes and I do not?’ asked the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. ‘Because I am a Red-eyed Frog,’ he croaked. ‘And you are just a Very Ordinary Caterpillar.’
Creeping out from between the leaves came an orange creature with big white spots. ‘Why do you have so many big white spots, and I do not?’ asked the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. ‘Because I am a Spotted Cuscus,’ he said oh so slowly ‘And you are just a Very Ordinary Caterpillar.’
‘I don’t have shiny feathers or a magnificent orange frill, I don’t have red eyes, spots or rainbow colours, I really am a Very Ordinary Caterpillar,’ said the Very Ordinary Caterpillar. And with that he spun himself a cocoon to hide. And that’s where he stayed, till one day …
The cocoon began to open, and he soon realised that he wasn’t a Very Ordinary Caterpillar any more. His wings shimmered like satin, with more colours than a rainbow. They were edged in orange frill and covered in white spots, and right in the middle of both wings were two bright circles that looked just like eyes. The Very Ordinary Caterpillar was now a very Extraordinary Butterfly.
Just like the animals could only see a very ordinary caterpillar, sometimes we need to look a bit deeper to see better.
In the gospel reading today God shines a light on Jesus and suddenly the disciples begin to see that Jesus is more than they might have imagined.
Let’s pray …
Thank you God that you sent Jesus into the world to show us who you are and how we should live. Thank you that when we begin to think we know everything, there is so much more that you can show us.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
We Sing: Let me see – (TiS 681)
Lord let me see, see more and more,
see the beauty of a person, not the colour of the skin,
see the faces of the homeless with no-one to take them in,
see discouragement because she’ll never win:
see the face of our Lord in the pain: Lord let me see.
Lord let me learn, learn more and more,
learn that what I know is just a speck of what there is to know,
learn from listening to my neighbour when I’d rather speak and go;
learn that as we live in faith and trust we grow;
Learn to see, hear and care, with our Lord: Lord let me learn.
Lord let me love, love more and more,
love the loveless and the fragile, help them be what they can be,
love the way that I would like them to be looking after me;
for to know you is to love them and be free,
and in love Jesus Christ will be found: Lord let me love.
Bible Reading: Exodus 24:12-18
12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there; I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up onto the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come back to you. Look, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.”
15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the Israelites. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Bible Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
– The Transfiguration
1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light.
3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Reflection:
Unless you are someone that loves a good hike, your memory of mountain tops is often better than the experience of the climb. Getting up and down most mountains isn’t easy, particularly if you are travelling on foot, so it’s really about what’s going to happen at the end, the scene you imagine viewing when you finally reach the top. That can be the thing that ultimately keeps you moving forward to reach the top. If you are lucky when you arrive a whole vista opens before you, the experience is breathtaking and that’s the bit you remember. If you’re not so lucky, the view might be covered by cloud, or rain, and you need to wait out the weather until the view becomes visible. If you have the patience to wait, what is revealed is often spectacular. Of course nowadays, we are able to do much more mountain climbing from the luxury of our cars. You can get to the top of many mountains without much effort at all, and then just take a short walk to the lookout to see the view. Even so, such places can be inspiring and touch you in a way you might not have imagined.
I had an experience like this about twenty-five years ago when I was travelling in South Africa with a friend, and we visited Mpumalanga, a province in South Africa bordering both Swaziland and Mozambique. Within Mpumalanga lie the Drakensberg Mountains which is where I visited ‘God’s Window’, a place so perfectly named. If you go there now there is a big tourist facility with a suspended walkway, but when I visited there was none of that – just a carpark, a walking track and then the most incredible view.
There weren’t even any fences. Sitting on an overhanging rock ledge the beautiful landscape was laid out before you, stretching as far as the eye could see. I was changed by that experience, immersed in the wonder of God’s creation and the recognition that while I only took up a small amount of space, I was breathing in time with the breath of the earth. And while it might seem a strange thing to say, I’m pretty sure that I had an experience of God on that mountain that day.
While my experience was a personal one, the readings today might suggest that what happened to me isn’t all that unique. The stories of Moses on the mountain, face glowing afterwards and Jesus’ transfiguration are intentionally rich in bright imagery. They are also breathtaking and yet they are set in real places, with real people and invite us to think about what transformation might mean. This is not just about the possibility of transformation, but the reality of it. Mid-way through his ministry, Jesus travels with a few of his inner circle of disciples, on a trip where they see something of the mysterious reality of who Jesus is that bursts through the everyday reality.
God calls Moses up the mountain and he goes! Moses has to wait for six days before anything happens, and then is up there for ‘forty days’ which is quite a long retreat!. Moses is there, face to face with God, and when he descends from the mountain ten chapters further on, he carries with him the tablets of the law and something of the radiance of God’s glory still reflecting from his face. Something about this experience has changed Moses in a way that makes it visible to those who see him.
The experience of the disciples who are with Jesus also changes their lives. We know that life, even Jesus’ life, is not full of glory and tremendous experiences, but every now and then we need something to wonder at, to be stunned by , to shed a light on the road ahead and illuminate our way just a little. The transfiguration of Jesus is this type of experience for the disciples, who, after leaving the mountain, have to travel the hard reality of the road to the cross.
The transfiguration light they experience is mysterious, but it points to Jesus’ glory. In this experience the law and the prophets are affirmed, but we hear nothing of the conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Maybe this is because it is a conversation that we are invited to participate, always listing for Jesus.
What we do hear is the voice of God, loud and clear and affirming that ‘this is my beloved son, listen to him’. This is the voice of direction which is more than a suggestion. I wonder if the disciples, and we, are called to listen to Jesus as he is the fulfilment of the law and prophets, as we heard last week. All things come together in Jesus. This is part of the inexplicable mystery of God, but also a reminder that even when we don’t know it all, we are to keep our eyes and ears open for Jesus.
The transfiguration is not explained neatly and there is no real conclusion to this encounter. As the disciples travel back down the mountain Jesus tells them they are not to speak about what has happened. Sometimes our faith doesn’t have neat edges, things can’t be explained , just experienced. In the light on the mountain Peter and his friends flounder. It can be the same for us. Experiencing the strangeness of life and keeping on the path that Jesus calls us to are not always easy. Life throws us curve balls and we flounder. Yet Jesus sees this, and responds to us in the same way he responded to the disciples that day – ‘Get up, don’t be afraid, keep going.’
Maybe, in reality, this is what transformation is about. It’s about getting up, facing our fears and continuing to move forward knowing that we don’t journey alone. It’s about continuing to walk with Jesus to the foot of the cross where we witness the God-one suffering for love of us. It is this that changes us. So maybe it’s not so much about the mountain itself that brings us closer to God, but being open to the experience, the listening, the conversation and the continued steps on the journey.
Amen.
We Sing: Shine, Jesus, Shine – (TiS 675)
Lord, the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness, shining;
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us, set us free by the truth you now bring us –
shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory;
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy;
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
As we gaze on your kingly brightness so our faces display your likeness,
ever changing from glory to glory: mirrored here, may our lives tell your story –
shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine …
Prayer for Others (prepared by Liz Pace):
Creator God, we come before you this morning aware of our limited understanding, asking for your patience and love to help us to transform our own lives, so that we too can bring about your kingdom here on earth.
We have become comfortable and complacent, yet somewhere in the back of our thinking we are aware that we could and should speak up when wrong is done in our name. We are often fearful or confused about what we should do. Help us to think differently and act kindly and justly.
Transform our vision so that we too can see with different eyes, become aware of different ways of thinking and acting. Give us courage to question or speak out to help others and to further our own understanding.
Transform our awareness of the needs of our different communities, our families and friends, our work colleagues, our daily interactions with those whom we meet. Help us to greet everybody we meet as our family, as children of God. Help us to see past the barriers of culture, colour, class and history to see with new eyes, the child of God before us.
Transform our thinking, as we are bombarded with news of dangerous situations, greedy and unstable leaders and waring nations. Support us from dissolving into helplessness, and change us into active and hopeful people who do whatever they can, to aid those in need, even if we feel it is too little or not effective.
Dissolve our arrogance and help us to see that we do not always have the only correct way of thinking or being, just a different way.
As we ask for insight, courage and empathy we also bring before you our personal concerns. In a few moments of silence let us bring them before God. (time of silence)
Mother and Father of us all, your children need a fresh transformation to truly follow your Son Jesus, living as he taught us, loving each other and open to new ways of being.
We bring these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ who taught us to pray,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name;
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
We Sing: Immortal, invisible – (TiS 143)
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, your great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, but ruling in might;
your justice like mountains high soaring above,
your clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
You give life to all, Lord, to both great and small,
in all life now living, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on a tree,
this wither, but ever unchanged you will be.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
your angels adore you, all veiling their sight,
of all your rich graces this grace, Lord, impart –
take the veil from our faces, the veil from our heart.
All praise we would render: reveal to our sight
what hides you is only the splendour of light;
and so let your glory, Almighty, impart,
through Christ in the story, your Christ to the heart.
Blessing:
Spirit of truth, shine your light on us:
transform our ways into your ways,
open our eyes, minds and hearts,
dispel our fears, and
teach us to listen and hear.
And the blessing of God the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit,
Three in One, One in Three,
remain with you always.
Amen.
Thanks to all those who have assisted in preparation for this liturgy with encouragement, prayers and conversation. I have also utilised the following resources: Fig Tree Worship, Ministry Matters and www.LaughingBird.net.au.